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Daily Archives: June 27, 2018

CONTENTS

North Sherman County Rural Fire Protection District Expresses Gratitude for Rufus Fire Support

Demonstration: Spinning, Weaving and All Things Wool, July 14

Boxcar and Jack Knife Fire Update, June 26, 9:00 a.m.

Rescheduled: Wasco County Historical Society Program

Stand Up and Be Counted

Greg Walden applauds $36.9 million in PILT funding for rural Oregon

Links: Things to Think About & Things to Do

1. North Sherman County Rural Fire Protection District Expresses Gratitude for Rufus Fire Support

On behalf of myself and the North Sherman County Rural Fire Protection District, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude. The Rufus Fire broke out at roughly 9:20 PM on Monday Night. Within 10 minutes of our arrival, residents were assisting each other in preparing for evacuation while others began watering the perimeter of neighboring homes. This type of comradery is what makes this such an amazing place to call home. Following is a list of people and organizations I would like to thank:

Moro Fire

South Sherman Fire and Rescue

Rural 7 Fire District

Klickitat Fire

North Gilliam County Fire

South Gilliam County Fire

Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue

BLM Crews

Sherman County Ambulance

Sherman County Sheriff’s Office

Bob’s Texas T-Bone

Family Market and Deli

Gorge Outfitters Supply

These agencies along with the outpouring of support given by our local farmers and citizens of Rufus gave us the best possible outcome.

Thank you, each and every one of you!

Chief Jeff Holliday

2. Demonstration: Spinning, Weaving and All Things Wool, July 14

The History Museum of Hood River County

What’s a Spinster?

a non-poisonous spider

a spinning wheel operator

an unmarried woman

If you can’t find the answer above, be sure to come to the Museum on JULY 14th for a full-out all-afternoon demonstration of spinning, weaving, felting, Kumihimo, card weaving, machine knitting and all things WOOL. Enjoy a summer exhibition, Follow the Thread

The Boxcar Fire is now 99,500 acres. More than 100 miles of containment line on the fire are being monitored by firefighters who mop-up hotspots as they are found. Emphasis is still being directed in the Deschutes River Canyon where heat can persist under juniper trees and sage brush. Steep, rocky, inaccessible terrain is a challenge for firefighters in this area. A BLM jet boat transported firefighters up river yesterday to assess structures and develop contingency plans, should fire activity increase.

Yesterday afternoon, as firefighters were completing fireline on the East flank of the Boxcar Fire, some active fire between Highway 197 and Bakeoven Road was suppressed with helicopter water drops. Overall, smoke in the fire area was minimal in comparison to past days, with a few sources well within the fire’s perimeter. The smoke will continue to decrease as time passes and the fuels are consumed.

The Jack Knife Fire remains at 14,772 acres. Firefighters continued to search for hotspots yesterday. Little to no heat or smoke was found within the fire perimeter. In order to be closer to their assigned area, firefighters have been staying at a satellite camp in the town of Moro. As the Jack Knife Fire shifts to patrol status, fewer firefighters are needed and will base from the primary Fire Camp in Maupin.

4. Rescheduled: Wasco County Historical Society Program

The Wasco County Historical Society has rescheduled the program on the Waldron Drugstore, which was scheduled for Saturday, June 30, 2018 at the Chinese Building at 210 E. 1st. St. The Dalles. It will be presented at a later date to be announced.

5. Stand Up and Be Counted

We touched a little on the subject of accountability yesterday. Today, let’s take a different angle on accountability and talk about why some people think it means fixing the blame for what goes wrong.

In any discussion about accountability, you can see some people begin to feel defensive, just by watching their body language. Maybe they are struggling with a life-threatening illness, or maybe had been in a severe automobile accident and are feeling like victims. Often you will hear them say things like, “Are you trying to tell me that I am to blame for this? Do you want me to believe that this is my fault?” That’s not the kind of accountability we’re talking about; it has nothing to do with blaming or faulting.

You see, the word “accountability” is an ancient Roman term that at its Latin root means “to stand forth and be counted.” What we are talking about is standing up for more in your life, and making it count. And if you realize that you might have had a hand in creating something – yes, even an accident or illness – without blaming yourself, you will also realize that you have the power to do something about it – to change it – even if it is only changing the way you look at the situation.

Everything you see in your life is something you had some part in creating, even if it was just to stand by and do nothing and let it happen. When you decide to take accountability, you make this creation a conscious process. Winston Churchill once said that, “The price of greatness is responsibility.” So, take that responsibility for your life. And when you do, you will find a power, happiness and a sense of internal peace you may not have thought possible. ~The Pacific Institute

Announcement comes as Walden recently secured important forest management reforms into law

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Representative Greg Walden (R-Hood River) today applauded $36.9 million in funding under the 2018 Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program to support essential services in rural Oregon. The payments will be made to 36 counties in Oregon, and represent the largest amount ever allocated in the 40-year history of the PILT program.

“These funds are welcome news for rural communities across our state. I worked with my colleagues in the House to fully fund this program that is part of the federal government’s obligation to our rural counties,” said Walden. “With the majority of Oregon’s land managed by the federal government, these funds, along with Secure Rural Schools funds and timber receipts, help ensure our communities have well-functioning schools, law enforcement, and infrastructure. I applaud President Trump and Secretary Zinke for prioritizing this critical funding, and look forward to continuing to work alongside the Administration to improve the management of our public lands and provide Oregon’s rural communities with the support they need.”

In the government funding measure that was signed into law in March, Walden secured $530 million in full funding for PILT, which counties in rural Oregon rely on. PILT program eligibility is reserved for local governments that contain non-taxable Federal lands within their boundaries. These jurisdictions provide significant support for national parks, wildlife refuges, and recreation areas throughout the year. PILT seeks to compensate local governments for the inability to collect property taxes on Federally-owned land.

A full list of 2018 PILT funding by county in Oregon’s Second Congressional District is included below:

Give the Forest Service and BLM the ability to offer stewardship contracts with a 20 year term.

Expanding “Good Neighbor Policy” to help states with road maintenance, culverts, and other similar projects on Forest Service land.

Last week, the House of Representatives passed the 2018 Farm Bill with Walden’s strong support, making important progress to improve federal forest policy. The 2018 Farm Bill includes 10 categorical exclusions and reauthorizes the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program, which is used to increase timber management in central, southern and eastern Oregon.